I’m suddenly wide awake.

My brothers entering the studio feel unreal.

“What do you mean by that?”

I ask as I haul Rihyeok off the floor.

Normally he’d be grumbling, “Look at the dust on me, you bad hyung,” but now he just stares and mumbles.

I’m no different.

“A candidate for first place?”

“Yes.”

“We are?”

“Yes.”

When I look at the other two standing beside Biju, they keep nodding.

Judging by Junghyun’s expression, it’s true—he’s terrible at lying.

I stare at Rihyeok in daze.

“They say we’re a candidate for first place?”

“It seems so.”

“......”

“......”

After a moment of silence, we all let out a roar and throw our arms around each other.

We dance in circles like a ganggangsullae.

Like little spider monkeys around a campfire, we cheer wildly and tangle ourselves up until, after a while, we calm down.

“Hyungs, it’s such a happy day, let’s have a celebratory drink.”

“Right, let’s drink.”

“I’ve been wanting to drink this from the fridge every time I saw it.”

With pounding hearts, we open the grape juice in the studio fridge.

It’s the one thing we dared not touch because our PT coach jokes that every time our BMI goes up, we have to do an extra set of squats.

When else would we drink it?

We sip the sweet juice and ask how this all happened.

“So, what’s the story?”

“Several things came together.” 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Biju explains why we’ve become first-place candidates.

Showtime.

A cable music show recorded every Tuesday in Sangam-dong.

It has an unusual rule: artists who don’t perform that day are excluded from the first-place candidates.

“There’s been a devastating typhoon.”

“Typhoon?”

What does that have to do with being a candidate?

“They say Autumn Girl is ending her promotions early because of the typhoon. You know her lyric, ‘A sudden downpour sweeps away your heart in the endless season.’ Her agency was worried it might spark controversy.”

Biju pulls out his phone and searches for Autumn Girl.

It’s real.

—“Autumn Girl, who achieved a triple crown with three consecutive music show wins, has ended her promotions early due to Typhoon ‘Stoat.’ Her agency SNH Entertainment said, ‘Given the many people affected, the lyrics seem inappropriate.’”

Next, a heartwarming note that one of her members is from the affected area and has gone to volunteer in recovery efforts.

The comment reactions are positive, too.

Reading the article, I understand why a first-place spot opened up.

Usually, on normal music shows, even if you don’t appear that day, if you have enough points you still win.

Sometimes the ending shows you congratulating into the empty air.

Her digital chart and album sales are strong, so on the terrestrial three or K-Net this week she’ll still appear as a candidate.

She’ll battle Daydream, who make their comeback on Thursday.

Okay. I get that.

“Do our numbers even put us in contention?”

“Barely.”

Biju says, “Thanks to the fan cams, our MV views and digital rank shot up over the weekend. The promotion team thinks that got reflected.”

“I see...”

So it all circles back to that event day.

At first it was absurd, but it makes sense.

With the previous winner gone, we surged up over the weekend and slid into third place.

“We’re first-place candidates...”

I suddenly feel it sinking in.

My chest lifts.

A pleasant chill runs down my neck and cheeks.

First-place candidates—I want to shout it from every rooftop.

I reach to call Mrs. Kim Deok-soon...

Just then, Rihyeok, whose cheeks are twitching with excitement, suddenly flinches as if remembering something.

“Huh.”

“What is it?”

Why is he looking at the grape juice like it’s poison?

“You know, there’s one thing we forgot.”

“Forgot what?”

“Remember our fan signing? We promised if we became first-place candidates, we’d dance in mascot costumes in Myeongdong.”

Oh. Right.

“......”

We all blink.

“......”

Thoughts flash through our minds.

Midsummer.

Outside temperature 33°C.

Hypercrowded, stifling mascot suits.

The throngs in Myeongdong.

Our faces drain white imagining that hellscape.

“......”

After a brief silence, I say carefully, “Shall we be happy about it first?”

“Y-yeah, hyung. It’s a good day.”

“Exactly—we’re not the ones who’ll suffer, it’ll be future us.”

Desperately changing the subject, we regain a cordial mood, but in our heads the mascot suits are already flying around.

The next day.

Arriving at HBS Sangam Tower, we’re greeted with warm congratulations.

“Congrats on being first-place candidates!”

“That’s amazing.”

“How does it feel to be first-place candidates? Want to experience it with us?”

Every rookie artist we pass in the hallway stops to congratulate us.

“Thank you, we’re really out of our minds. We suddenly became candidates at the very end of promotions.”

All eyes on us are at least twice as many as usual, so we have to be four times more careful in our words and actions, especially in front of the other candidates.

Today our fellow candidates on Showtime are girl group Misty and solo artist Joanna.

The mood is friendly.

With Autumn Girl gone after three straight trophy sweeps and ballad singer Jung Woon-hyung ending his activities, the top spot on Showtime is up for grabs.

Those who’d normally be third place are now prime for first.

Whether they crave first or not, everyone seems happy for this sudden luck.

After a round of greetings, my energy is drained.

At least I can relax comfortably in the green room they usually share among candidates, because now it’s just us.

While getting makeup for the pre-recording, we feel a strange emptiness and look for our manager.

“Mingi hyung, when will Director come?”

“He’s busy right now.”

“He’s still working? We haven’t seen him since yesterday—maybe something went wrong...”

“Don’t worry too much.”

The road manager checks his phone and smiles.

“I heard an update; the vibe’s good.”

Our director hasn’t shown up since yesterday.

They say he’s out doing promotions, but he’s never been away this long.

I can’t figure it out.

Is there a variety show we’ll be on?

We’re not filming anything like that.

Unable to contain his curiosity, our maknae asks Mingi hyung.

“Aren’t you going to tell us?”

“He told me to keep quiet until it’s confirmed. I want to tell you, but it’s above my pay grade... just wait until tonight. You’ll know then.”

The maknae peppers him with questions, but the manager shakes his head.

I suspect that the groundwork is done and now only the final deal is coming from above.

I’m curious what project our director has spent a month crafting; I’ll hear about it tonight.

“Ah, I’m excited.”

The maknae stretches and smiles.

“I feel so good. Director’s doing well, and our work is going smoothly.”

“Yesterday you looked like death warmed up. Your face cleared up, maknae.”

“I’ve let go of attachments.”

We can’t help but laugh.

Yesterday he followed us around asking, “Will we be first tomorrow? Can we be first? Could we be second?”—he was so annoying about it.

I can’t blame him.

As the makeup artists finish up, Rihyeok clicks his tongue in mock exasperation.

“Seriously, last night I couldn’t sleep because of him. He rolled into my side while I was sleeping and whispered ‘First place, first place, first place,’ like some kind of ghost.”

“He was that eager.”

“And now?”

“I’ve completely let go.”

I smirk and say, “Does that ever really happen? Of course you want it.”

I couldn’t sleep myself after talking to Mrs. Kim Deok-soon.

Honestly, how could I not want it? We’re literally first-place candidates.

Even if it’s just luck, it’d be a lie to say we’re not hungry for that top spot.

We’re hopeful, we’re curious.

But on the ride here we all made a pact: just being first-place candidates is reason to be grateful, and nothing we do today will change the outcome, so let’s enjoy our time.

Let’s share this good fortune at the end of promotions with the people around us and our fans.

“Guys, fan mail’s here.”

“Ooh.”

The fan manager appears and hands Mingi hyung a NewBlack eco bag.

We pull out the letters inside: colorful envelopes.

Letters fans sent after attending our workshop.

“Wow...”

We all exclaim as we read them.

“Hyung, look at this—someone drew the cutest caricature and sent it. There are several versions—hah! Look at Rihyeok hyung as a Pirañha version, it’s so cute.”

“I want to see too.”

“Me too.”

“Don’t look, that person is evil.”

“There’s also Rihyeok hyung as a persimmon version.”

We laugh at the talented fan’s caricatures.

“Someone suggested I do a vlog?”

“What?”

“They said I should film vlogs of growing green onions or onions.”

“Hey, not bad.”

“Junghyun hyung, someone asked you to give weather updates before every pre-record. They said you’re better than the weather service.”

“Why is everyone asking me how much rice I eat...”

Though it’s a little-known cable program, our supples apparently all watched it, because Junghyun gets a lot of mentions.

Of course the biggest messages were:

—“Congrats on being first-place candidates. We know how hard you’ve worked, so don’t feel pressured. Just being candidates is amazing.”

—“PS. Are you going to wear mascot suits?”

...We pretend not to see that last PS.

We erase it from our minds and savor the fans’ heartfelt words.

We don’t have to win first place, just perform without pressure—our supples’ support warms us.

Just then the FD with the intercom pokes his head in.

“NewBlack, time to get ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ ready.”

“Yes!”

We respond energetically and look around at our brothers.

“Let’s go meet our supples.”

Perhaps because we’re wrapping up with the joy of being first-place candidates, today’s pre-recording has an unusually passionate atmosphere.

As the introduction music plays, fans shout our names thunderously, and to repay their enthusiasm, we sweat several times harder than usual.

“Nice work, everyone.”

The director of photography smiles.

“We have time before the next recording. Chat with the fans for a bit.”

Even normally they give us plenty of talk time, but today, since we’re first-place candidates, they’re letting us linger.

Watching the staff trickle out like an ebbing tide, we turn to the fans.

“How is everyone feeling?”

“I’m trembling with excitement.”

“Thrilled, excited,” they say.

“We’re really nervous too.”

“Well, maybe not that much for me...”

“Hyung, your eyes are shaking so much right now, you know that?”

“Shut up.”

I laugh watching our boys bicker as usual, but today there’s extra focus on Junghyun.

Someone shouting “Tomorrow’s weather!” makes us burst out laughing again.

Seeing Junghyun’s sheepish face cheers me up.

He’s not usually talkative, so on reality shows he’s often overshadowed—seeing him get attention lifts my spirits.

Like at the fan signing, the mood is warm and lively.

After about ten minutes, it’s time to change sets, and I bring up the important topic one last time.

“Everyone remembers the first-place promise, right?”

They nod, eyes shining.

“We thought about it, but with this hot weather and high discomfort index, if people in mascot suits showed up on the street, it might get a bad reaction...”

They all shake their heads.

“You just want to see us in the suits, don’t you?”

Nods.

“As expected, our supples are the best.”

Smiling in faux resignation, I give a thumbs-up and they laugh.

I continue with a smile.

“Actually, the mascot promise was a joke.”

It was sincere.

“I read all your letters carefully. Your words saying it’s okay even if we don’t win, so please don’t feel pressured—they meant so much. We’d told ourselves to let go and enjoy, but we worried about disappointing you.”

“I saw it last night and it’s true.”

Rihyeok tattles, cutting in.

“He kept sleep-talking next to me. ‘What do we do?’ he’d murmur. When I asked, ‘What’s wrong?’ he said, ‘It’s huge trouble, Rihyeok. Supples are raining from the sky...’”

“Junghyun, drag him away.”

Our main vocalist pulls our rapper into his arms.

“Uh, I’m curious.”

“So am I.”

Biju and the maknae, along with the fans, clamored, but I shook my head.

“This is new information, so it needs censoring. Please understand. Last time I misspoke and that’s how our fanclub name was decided.”

At that, the would-be rioters had an “Ah” of understanding and chuckled.

Watching the staff re-enter the set for the next segment, I wrap up.

“Okay then, the rest of the story at the mini fanmeeting after the broadcast. I’ll listen to Rihyeok’s story and tell you later.”

“Great job today!”

“See you later!”

“By the way, we have a gift for you—check it after you leave.”

I wave at the curious crowd with a smile.

But when we returned to the green room, we were the ones who were stunned.

“Wow.”

We gape at the tall stack of boxes as Mingi hyung and the fan manager grin.

“These are the lunchboxes the fans sent.”

“Wow...”

“I know we said no support, but we made an exception today. And yours are the biggest.”

We’d been wondering what to eat, and this is such a blessing...

On the boxes was our group photo sticker and “Thank you for your hard work! We’ll keep cheering for you!”

We’re overwhelmed with gratitude.

“Hyungs, look. They’re glowing.”

Butter garlic shrimp, abalone, buffalo wings, braised pork ribs, and the main dishes: samgyetang and grilled eel.

As we marvel at the luxurious lunchboxes, Junghyun says,

“Come to think of it...”

“Our fans must be going crazy about this right now.”

Outside the station, the fans headed to the usual mini fanmeeting spot, guided by the fan manager.

‘What’s this?’

When they arrived, a food truck was parked there.

Fans who’d secured spots at the workshop welcomed those who arrived later.

“Hurry up, come!”

Huh...?

A familiar, savory smell.

It lures the hungry crowd just before lunchtime.

The sizzle of hot oil frying.

Some fans who had recently vowed to diet felt their hearts race.

A different kind of excitement from seeing us perform.

As they stared entranced at the “Hoho Chicken” food truck making chicken in real time, someone shared major news.

“Did you know?”

One person, poking chicken with a toothpick, said,

“This is boneless.”

A gasp, then a wave of even greater delight spread through the crowd.